1 month agoLos Angeles Dodgers utility man
Enrique Hernandez will get the start in center field and will bat seventh on Friday for the deciding Game 5 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium against the division-rival San Diego Padres and right-hander
Yu Darvish.
Tommy Edman is making another start at shortstop in place of the injured
Miguel Rojas (groin). It will be Hernandez's second straight start in the series after he played third base and went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the Game 4 victory. He also appeared in the Game 2 loss on Sunday and went 0-for-2 at the plate. Hernandez only has two hits (one triple) in 11 career at-bats against Darvish with an RBI, one walk and four strikeouts. In his extensive postseason career covering 208 plate appearances, the Puerto Rican native has hit a nice .276 (51-for-185) with 13 home runs, 29 RBI and 27 runs scored.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoAs expected, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman
Freddie Freeman (ankle) is back at first base and is hitting third against San Diego Padres right-hander
Yu Darvish in the deciding Game 5 of the National League Division Series on Friday. Freeman aggravated an ankle injury in Game 3 of the NLDS that has been bothering him since the last week of the regular season, and he was scratched from the lineup for the Game 4 win as a result. The 35-year-old All-Star slugger will try to give it a go in the winner-take-all showdown against the Friars despite being well below 100%. He's gone 3-for-11 with a stolen base and two strikeouts in three games played in the NLDS and has hit .250 (10-for-40) in his career off Darvish with three home runs, three doubles, four RBI, four walks and 10 strikeouts. DFS gamers will probably be looking to avoid Freeman because he's basically playing on one leg right now.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Evan Carter (back) underwent an ablation procedure on his back last week and has started a hitting progression. Carter managed to play in only 45 games in 2024 due to a lower-back stress reaction. The Rangers are hoping that his recent procedure will clear the way for the 22-year-old to put his back injury in the rearview mirror as he prepares for spring training early in 2025. If healthy next year, the former second-round selection in 2020 should have a big role in the Rangers' outfield, at least on the strong side of a platoon against right-handed pitching. In his 45 games (162 trips to the plate) this year, he slashed a weak .188/.272/.361 with five home runs, 15 RBI and 23 runs scored. However, with better health, could bounce back nicely and become a nice late-round value pick in fantasy drafts. We'll continue to keep an eye on his progress this offseason.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
1 month agoTexas Rangers third baseman
Josh Jung (wrist) underwent tendon-release surgery on Tuesday and will start a normal offseason program in three to four weeks. Jung fractured his right wrist back in early April when he was hit by a pitch and missed four months as a result. When the 26-year-old right-handed-hitting third baseman returned late in the year, he eventually went back on the injured list in the final month of the regular season when his wrist started bothering him again. Hopefully, this latest surgery clears it up and he'll be a full-go heading into the start of the 2025 season. The former eighth overall pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech has developed a reputation early in his career as being injury-prone and he managed only seven home runs and 16 RBI with 48 strikeouts and eight walks in only 46 games in 2024 after he was a first-time All-Star in 2023.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
1 month agoTexas Rangers outfielder
Adolis Garcia (knee) has a sprained left patellar tendon and will rehab for eight weeks before starting his offseason workouts. Despite dealing with a knee injury for the final few weeks of the 2024 regular season, Garcia will not need surgery for his knee injury and should be good to go for the start of spring training next February, barring a setback with his knee this offseason. After helping the Rangers win their first-ever World Series title last fall, the 31-year-old Cuban slugger regressed in 2024, slashing .224/.284/.400 with a below-average .684 OPS, 25 home runs, 85 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 68 runs scored in 154 games. It was a disappointment after he made his second All-Star appearance in 2023 by hitting a career-high 39 home runs and driving in a career-high 107 runs in 148 regular-season games. If Garcia can put his knee injury in the rearview mirror to start next season, he'll be hoping to bounce back as a more consistent power bat.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
1 month agoNew York Mets right-hander
Kodai Senga is likely to get the nod to start Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres on the road. The Mets just need to check in with all of their pitchers to make sure that everyone is on track before making a final decision on Saturday. Senga only made one start for the Mets during the regular season due to shoulder, triceps and calf injuries, but he rejoined the playoff roster for the Division Series against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies and made the start in Game 1, giving up an earned run on a solo homer while walking one and striking out three in just two innings of work. Because Senga didn't have enough time to properly stretch his arm out at the end of the year, he's likely to only go a few innings again in Game 1 of the NLCS this weekend.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SNY - Andy Martino
1 month agoDetroit Tigers outfielder
Kerry Carpenter (hamstring) will test out his hamstring injury on Friday and Saturday before the team decides his status for Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Saturday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians on Saturday at Progressive Field. "We're gonna take as much time as we can to see what he can and can't handle," manager A.J. Hinch said. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter injured his left hamstring running the bases in the Game 4 loss on Thursday and had to be removed from the game. Even if Carpenter's hamstring checks out fine, he could start on the bench on Saturday for the winner-take-all game against Guardians left-hander
Matthew Boyd. In his first six playoff games this year, Carpenter has gone 4-for-16 (.250) with a homer, three RBI, a walk and five strikeouts in his 17 plate appearances.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Jason Beck
1 month agoNew York Yankees closer
Luke Weaver was back at it again on Thursday, shutting down the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning of Game 4 to send the Yankees to the ALCS with a 3-2 win. Weaver threw a perfect frame with two strikeouts. The 31-year-old pitched in all four games of this series, allowing no runners to cross the plate and surrendering only two hits and zero walks over 4 ⅓ IP in total. He has been excellent as the Yankees closer, and they will continue to use him heavily during this postseason run.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoNew York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole was fantastic in Game 4 of their ALDS series against the Kansas City Royals, throwing seven innings of one-run ball en route to a 3-1 victory. Cole allowed six hits and no walks while striking out four. Although his last start wasn't terrible, Cole will feel much better about this one. He should line up to pitch early in the ALCS and will start twice if the series gets extended. The Yankees are in a very good spot if Cole continues to pitch like he did today.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoCleveland Guardians closer
Emmanuel Clase came through in Game 4 of the ALDS, collecting the final five outs and earning the save in a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers. Clase did allow one run in the ninth, but that was his only baserunner allowed. It was a nice bounce-back performance after Clase uncharacteristically gave up three runs and took the loss in Game 2 of this series. All systems should be a go for the Guardians come Game 5 on Saturday, so expect Clase to be called upon if the game is even remotely close in the late stages.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoCleveland Guardians utility man
David Fry came up with a clutch pinch-hit, two-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 4 of their ALDS matchup against the Detroit Tigers, leading the team to a 5-4 victory. It was Fry's only at-bat of the game, and he made the most of it. The homer came with the Guardians down 3-2 and probably saved their season. As a guy who can play several positions and swings a pretty solid bat, Fry will likely see the field in Game 5, whether it be starting the game or coming in as a pinch hitter.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoDetroit Tigers catcher
Jake Rogers was seen after Thursday's ALDS game with his left wrist and forearm wrapped. He also underwent x-rays to determine the severity of the injury. Rogers played all nine innings at catcher, but was pinch-hit for in the bottom of the ninth. The Tigers will not have more details until Friday, but if Rogers can't play in Game 5 they will likely turn to rookie
Dillon Dingler behind the dish. It would be a big spot for the 26-year-old, who only has 84 big-league at-bats.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Chris McCosky
1 month agoLos Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to start Game 5 of their NLDS series against the San Diego Padres on Friday. Yamamoto was knocked around by the Padres in Game 1 last Saturday, but will have a chance at redemption now. He will face tough opposition with
Yu Darvish starting on the other side and will surely be on a short leash after surrendering five runs in three innings his last time out. That said, the 26-year-old is certainly capable of shutting down any lineup, including the formidable Padres.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Dodgers
1 month agoDetroit Tigers starting pitcher
Tarik Skubal will take the ball for Game 5 of their ALDS series against the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. Skubal tossed a seven-inning gem on Monday in Game 2 and will be pitching on full rest Saturday. The Tigers will likely get as much as they can out of the triple-crown winner, who has only thrown 92 and 88 pitches in his two postseason starts. He will surely go over the century mark in this one if he is pitching well. The Guardians are yet to name their starter, but whoever they pick will have to be on their A-game to match Skubal.
--Matt Garon - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
1 month agoCincinnati Reds infielder
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand),
Matt McLain (shoulder) and
Edwin Arroyo (shoulder) will play in the Arizona Fall League, which began play on Monday. Both McLain and Arroyo missed all of 2024 after suffering shoulder injuries. McLain also dealt with a stress reaction in his rib cage. He is slated to play shortstop, second base and center field in the AFL, and he could also play in the outfield. If fully healthy in 2025, McLain is expected to mostly see time at second in Cincinnati. Encarnacion-Strand was limited to 29 games before suffering a season-ending hand injury in June that required surgery. He will be available to play first and third base in the AFL and could also see action in the outfield. The 24-year-old will need to prove himself in spring training in order to find consistent playing time to open the 2025 campaign.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
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